Iams Home 4 the Holidays Contest voting is coming to an end Monday, March 1 at 12 noon. The winning story will garner $500 for the lucky rescue group or shelter. There were five rescue stories picked by Iams judges from all the submissions and Philadelphia's Baby Hope is one of them!
Here is her story. Please read it and cast your vote.
Baby its Cold Outside!
Baby Hope, as she came to be called, was put in a cardboard box that someone sealed with duct tape and left on a Philadelphia curb for trash. She was all alone, sealed in a box with no food or water for at least two days before being discovered by a Good Samaritan who noticed a slight movement to the box.
On November 13, 2009 when a Philadelphia Animal Control Officer responded to the call he found the emaciated, frightened, flea-covered pit bull mix puppy near death. No food or water - just all those fleas helping themselves to a meal of this pitiful pup.
Luck was in the stars for Baby Hope because when she was brought to PSPCA a volunteer from Burlington County Animal Alliance (BCAA), a rescue group with a long history of helping homeless pets in the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey area was so touched by her plight she immediately took her into BCAA custody.
Cheryl Baxter, Office Manager at Marne Veterinary Hospital fostered Baby Hope for the first two weeks. Estimated to be between 3 – 4 months old when found, Baby Hope weighed in at a measly six pounds! She was dehydrated and suffered such severe malnutrition her little belly was swollen while the rest of her body was nothing but flakey skin and bones.
Baby Hope's neck was so small Cheryl could fit the fingers of one hand around it! She had to hold her neck up to enable the puppy to eat. Baby Hope could barely walk; she collapsed after three teetering steps due to muscle wasting form starvation. Cheryl's tender loving care along with the superior nutrition of Iams got Baby Hope back to health in those first few weeks. The pup ate ravishingly which was a good sign that she hadn't given up on life yet.
Cheryl brought Baby Hope to work with her daily and within two weeks one of the patrons fell in love with the puppy. Baby Hope has a new name, Sammie, to match her new start. Sammie is now living the high life with her adoptive family, Tracie and Mark Muir, their children and a canine sibling named Reese, a 2 year old rescued Chihuahua that is learning how to be a puppy again after providing mellow comfort to the Muir's 12 year old German shepherd who has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Tracie routinely searched PetFinder.com as she knew the time was coming near to adopt a new canine into the family but never seemed to have the right timing for finding a dog she desired. When she found Baby Hope and discovered her foster mom worked at the Muir's veterinarian's office, she took it as a sign from above.
Sammie's weight continues to increase as she regains her health. She now tips the scale at a whopping 20.5 pounds; that's a 14.5 pound gain in seven weeks! Being only about six months of age Sammie has a whole lot more growing to do…
Tracie continues to bring Sammie to Marne Veterinary Hospital for check ups every two weeks and is amazed by Sammie's propensity to find Cheryl (no matter where she may be in the office) and curl up in her lap. Sammie is the lucky one because she has two moms!
Art for the Animals artist Sandy Sandy was so touched by Baby Hope's story she created a painting.
Time is of the essence… please vote for Baby Hope
http://www.animalcenter.org/events/h4th/essay_contest.aspxhttp://www.examiner.com/x-1513-Philadelphia-Animal-Advocate-Examine...
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